10 Leadership Skills of Entrepreneurs

Many writers have written articles about the characteristics, behaviors, values & attitudes that spell success for the entrepreneurial leader. My top 10 list goes further, blending the theoretical, practical & common sense based on 25 years I’ve spent in the field assessing, coaching & consulting leaders.

A Successful Leader:

1. Has a Vision. Think things through and know where you want to go and how you want to get there. Work with others to ensure your Vision is followed through. Direct the actions & resources toward making it a reality.

2. Communicates well: Articulate a vision clearly to others. Encourage two-way communication between everyone and always be available to others. Strive to be concise & specific about directions & instructions. Above all, a good leader avoids generalizations & ambiguities that can lead to misunderstanding, conflict & poor performance.

3. Supports & Mentors their employees: Start by helping others clarify and achieve goals by identifying & removing any obstacles. Provide the resources (time, money, people, information & equipment) needed to complete the task. Don’t reprimand others who make mistakes when taking a well-calculated risk. Instead, critique & analyze what went wrong and what went right. Next, work with the employee to correct the error. Decide whether another attempt at a previous goal is necessary, and offer encouragement if it is. During the entire process, provide appropriate feedback to ensure positive attitudes & actions. Serve as a model of good attitude and use approaches that others can emulate.

4. Believes in his/herself. A good leader possesses a strong sense of confidence, built upon years of learning, experimenting and at times failing — but always growing. Be aware of personal strengths & limitations, and demonstrate those skills and talents without boasting. Assume responsibility for faults & personal errors without hiding them or blaming others, and know that if a mistake occurs, it does not equate inadequacy. A successful leader believes that he or she can turn around a negative situation by re-examining the variables & other circumstances — with input from others, when necessary.

5. Creates an Environment that encourages others to grow & thrive. Know that no one individual possesses all of the answers. By appreciating the role that motivational techniques can play in improving employee performance, you can work with others to increase organizational productivity & improve individual job satisfaction. Here are some tips on how to create a motivational atmosphere:
• Ask people their opinion rather than only telling them yours. Many have great ideas. Also their ideas will trigger more of yours.
• The Challenge. When people ask you for solutions, have them come up with answers or options rather than telling them the best way to resolve a situation. Discuss the merits of their views and how to make them successful.
• Provide positive Feedback when employees voice their opinions. Offer suggestions or try to resolve challenges. Reinforcing behavior on your part will encourage more spontaneity, thinking & innovation on their part.
• Ask Questions, even when you don’t know the answer. Ask employees challenging questions that encourage them to think, plan and react. Above all, encourage employees to challenge themselves.
• Encourage employees to take appropriate risks. Support them when they do and also when the outcome of risk-taking isn’t positive. In those cases, evaluate what went wrong and encourage other, more appropriate risks.

6. Manages by Walking-around. By getting out of the office and walking around to interact with other employees, you get an opportunity to see people on the line doing daily tasks. Create an opportunity to informally chat with employees and learn something more about their work challenges & lives.

7. Acts & Reacts in an honest manner. Authors and creators of The Leadership Challenge program, report that honesty is the # 1 characteristic of superior leaders. Honest leaders easily build trust & confidence. Their employees are more apt to work harder, ask questions and respect leaders who come across as honest. Employees will also accept critiques, whether positive or negative, from leaders they trust & believe.

9. Perseveres. Don’t deflect from achieving goals simply because obstacles exist or no answer is readily available. Continue in your pursuit of excellence despite barriers and criticism, and encourage the same attitude in others.

10. Shares Successes. Know that positive outcomes are rarely the result of only one person’s attempts or input. A self-confident entrepreneur shares the limelight & praise with others who contributed to the final product or service.